I'm the founder of Millennial Branding, a Gen-Y research and management consulting firm. I also wrote the #1 international bestselling book, Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future, now in 13 languages. My second book, Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success, will be released in 2013 by St. Martins Press. I've been featured in over 500 media outlets, including Wired and ELLE magazines. I've also written for BusinessWeek, CNN International, TIME, The Wall Street Journal and several other national outlets. I speak on topics such as Gen-Y workforce management, personal branding, social media, and career development for companies such as Google, Time Warner, IBM, and CitiGroup. In 2010, I was named to the Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 List, and BusinessWeek cited me as someone entrepreneurs should follow on Twitter.

Dionne Warwick's View of World Hunger Day 2012

From Dionne’s recent performance on The Jonathan Ross Show (UK): Thanks to Jonathan Ross, the team at HotSauceTV and Brian Ritchie for this photograph

I recently had the honor of interviewing the legendary Dionne Warwick. Dionne ranks among the 40 biggest hit makers of the entire rock era (1955–1999), based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. Warwick ranks second only to Aretha Franklin as the most-charted female vocalist with 56 singles making the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998. Dionne has won five Grammy Awards for songs such as “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and “That’s What Friends Are For”. She is also a cousin of the late Whitney Houston.

I asked her about her views on International Women’s Day 2012, particularly in relation to her FAO Goodwill Ambassador role for The United Nations and her continued support of The Hunger Project. Dionne will be headlining World Hunger Day 2012 in London at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 28th May 2012 as the only London date of her 50th Anniversary World Tour.

You supported the 101st International Women’s Day. Why do you feel that women are so important to ending hunger and poverty?

I am pleased that the focus of the 101st International Women’s day was all about empowering rural women. Rural communities in Africa, South Asia and Latin America are where the majority of hungry people are and the inequality that exists between women and men in these communities is holding back progress. These women have a very tough time, so much is expected of them. Statistics show that despite the fact that 70 per cent of the agricultural workforce in developing countries is made up of women, they continue to account for over 60 per cent of the world’s hungry. These women are expected to play the role of wife, mother, food producer/water carrier as well as a ‘home maker’.

Many of these women achieve this in spite of having little or no education and without having any say in the decisions which affect them. Healthy children are born from healthy, respected, well-nourished and educated mothers and it is imperative that they have a voice in the decisions which affect them. If you empower a mother and let her have her say towards a poverty-free future, the positive impact this would have on ending hunger will be immense.

What message would you like to get across at World Hunger Day 2012? What is your goal?

I know that Forbes is read by businesses leaders, movers and shakers and entrepreneurs the world over so my message is to you all is that I invest my time in supporting The Hunger Project and I co-created their World Hunger Day campaign with them because I am passionate about what they do to end hunger. This is also my mandate as Goodwill Ambassador to The United Nations FAO.

With a fraction of the funds you might expect, The Hunger Project currently works in over 20,000 rural communities through a network of 300 staff and an incredible 375,000 trained volunteer leaders – all of whom are living in the communities most affected by chronic hunger and poverty. Ending hunger and poverty is happening from the grassroots up and The Hunger Project mobilises those suffering from chronic and persistent hunger to be their own solution. Please consider supporting their work with your heart, but make sure you have your business head on too. My motto in life is ‘If you think it, you can do it’ and if we all apply that thought we can end hunger the world over.

You have embarked on your 50th Anniversary World Tour. Why do you think that your music continues to be as popular as ever?

I have been blessed with songs that were written for me by two of the most prolific composers of our era and these songs have the ability to span time and have grown with my audiences over the years. I have been consistent by staying true to who I am and will continue to sing the type of songs that those who have continued to support my career expect from me.

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